Parliamentarian Chaminda Wijesiri has raised concerns over the continued incarceration of elderly prisoners, including inmates over the age of 70 who are reportedly unable to attend to basic personal needs without assistance.
Speaking in Parliament for the first time since his release on bail, Wijesiri said some elderly inmates had spent decades in prison despite being eligible for release based on good conduct.
“There is a large number of prisoners over the age of 70 in the prison system. They are unable to even attend to their own bowel movements without assistance,” he said.
The MP also referred to a prisoner who had been incarcerated at the age of 18 and had spent around 30 years in custody before dying while still in prison.
He further said that many prisoners who qualify for release due to good conduct continue to remain behind bars for decades.
Wijesiri was sentenced to 18 months in prison on July 28 after being found guilty of obstructing the duties of two police officers and assaulting them. He was subsequently released on bail.
Reflecting on his own experience in prison, Wijesiri also alleged that actions by both the Government and the Opposition had contributed to losses he had suffered in recent times.
